With a little imagination, shipping containers can be transformed into almost anything, including museums, art galleries, and movie theaters. The unique benefits and potential of using shipping containers as building materials are becoming more obvious to artists. Converting shipping containers into several creative projects brings out a community and benefits the public who carry the same ideas.
Here are shipping containers that are being converted into incredible projects on a large and small scale all over the world.
Nomadic Museum, New York
From New York to Tokyo, a Canadian photographer initiated the idea of stacking sea containers into a traveling gigantic building of artwork. Along with Shigeru Ban (a Japanese architect), the Nomadic Museum took the concept of an exhibition that moved across countries, displaying the photographer’s work around the world. What made it exceptional was that the whole building was made of shipping containers and paper tubes that appeared like a massive chessboard. Proving once again that storage containers are reusable and functional for many purposes when no longer serving to deliver goods across borders.
The first location of the project took place in New York, precisely in Pier 54 which was known for being the Titanic’s arrival destination. The project was then moved to Santa Monica and Tokyo. To make the whole structure stable, the containers are stacked on top of one another, and the triangular truss that supports the roof is supported by a colonnade of paper tubes in the space in between.
This mobile museum gives a comprehensive overview of the adaptability and effectiveness of using shipping containers. The Nomadic Museum makes full use of the durability and portability that shipping containers naturally possess because it was built to travel the world. The Nomadic Museum also emphasizes the aesthetic and design potential of using shipping containers as building materials.
Hot Box Pop-Up Art Gallery, Phoenix
The Hot Box Gallery was a project by Greg Esser, an American artist. He was awarded by ArtPlace America to transform refurbished steel containers into permanent studio and gallery spaces throughout the district and to help bring awareness to the need for affordable artist housing in the downtown area.
The challenge emerging local artists to display their work in a way that makes the best use of the container’s small dimensions around 18 feet deep by 7.5 feet wide by 8 feet high dimensions. Since receiving the funding in the fall, Esser and his Roosevelt Row team have been hard at work transforming the 20-foot-long crates into portable creative spaces with white walls, hardwood floors, and LED track lighting.
According to the artists involved, they believe that the big boxes can serve as spaces for artists to exhibit and create their works. Projects like these show how capable and dedicated people are when it comes to improving their communities through innovative solutions and considerate actions.
GAD Mobile Art Gallery, Norway
GAD mobile art gallery was initiated by Norwegian architects from the MMW architectural firm who wanted to create a semi-temporary gallery. The initial idea was to create a space that was easy to disassemble and relocate at any location within a few days. The structure was formed from five 20’ shipping containers as a sturdy base for the upper two floors, then stacked another three of 40 feet of sea containers, and finally, on top of it the two 40-foot containers were set out on end to provide access to the rooftop balcony. Industrial stairways and ladders that are a part of the gallery’s primary traffic flow connect the containers. The building’s composition appears light and airy because the parts are only partially overlapped, giving GAD plenty of covered and open outdoor space.
The interiors of the containers are insulated, and sheets of plywood and sheetrock covering them are all painted white, giving the area smooth surfaces perfect for a gallery. To let in as much light as possible, the containers are provided with circular windows placed across from one another. They also have roof lights and floor-to-ceiling safety glass windows at each end of each container. GAD is a flexible, outgoing unit that works well in any setting and provides an engaging stage for the display of art.
Miniature Traveling Movie Theaters USA Network’s Character Project
A series of miniature movie theaters formed of shipping containers were built in New York, which can hold seating for 18 people and have air conditioning. They were developed for the USA Network to air a short film series that was centered on intriguing real-life and fictional characters. The “viewing pods” were transported to Los Angeles, Chicago, and San Francisco after the film series had been screened.
The main purpose of the recreation of this container movie theater is to be easily accessible to the public. Repurposing shipping containers can truly be an exceptional result when modified out of creative ideas.
Purchasing a Conex Box
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